IoT Device Owners: 3 Must-Do’s to Protect Your Privacy

Almost every new device or appliance on the market today connects to the internet.  While these devices can make our lives much easier, they also collect huge amounts of private, sometimes-sensitive data and expose us to cyber attacks.  As a consumer of such devices and a digital marketing student at Northwestern University’s Medill IMC program, I have found two articles that will inform you how to protect your household in the IoT age.

In an article from McAfee titled 5 Tips to Protect Your IoT Devices, consumer security expert Gary Davis outlines five of the most important steps tech consumers should take to ensure their safety.  Davis goes into detail about the definition of IoT devices, explaining what differentiates them from normal devices – the fact that their main purpose is to perform offline tasks.  He then explains some of the history behind IoT security breaches, namely the Mirai attack of 2016.  With the context of cyber attacks being on the rise, Davis finally delves into his list of tips.

In a very similar article on the Hubspot blog, titled IoT Security: Why Experts Are Scared -- And What You Can Do to Protect Yourself, staff writer Clifford Chi provides his perspective on the current state of security in IoT.  Chi does a great job of providing real-life examples of how we use IoT everyday, but he also utilizes some eye-catching statistics.  For example, IoT has made it possible for our refrigerators to order milk for us, but the criminal IoT compromises have also increased by 600% this year.  Chi then looks to the future to predict some future risks and suggest ways in which companies could improve their security.  This article, just like the previous one, ends with a list of recommended action items for IoT users.

After reading these articles and with my experience from Northwestern, I have decided on the three most important takeaways for IoT device owners.

·      Know Vendors’ Motivations - When you buy a device, consider who is making the product and what they intend to gain from you using it.  Some companies will overlook your personal security if it means they can profit off of your data.

·      Diversify Your Passwords - It’s the oldest tip in the book, but having matching usernames and passwords on all IoT devices can leave you susceptible.

·      Separate Your Networks - It is safest to separate your personal, work, and device networks.

As you're using your IoT devices, think about these tips to ensure no personal data is leaked.

Oliver Hodgetts is a senior at Northwestern University studying economics, marketing, and history.  He enjoys following trends in technology and plans to work as a consultant in Chicago after graduation.

You can connect with Oliver on Twitter or LinkedIn.